Just returned to the home base after driving back from Rockford for Wednesday's All-Star Game. Road Ranger Stadium, which is actually in Loves Park, Illinois, had a solid two-day stretch of fun and fun baseball. The game itself was a pitchers' duel until Florence's Ryan Basham hit a home run in the sixth inning. The visiting East team went on to defeat the West 5-2. Basham became the third straight Freedom player to win the A-S MVP award, following in the footsteps of Angel Molina last year and Reggie Watson in 2007.
A note about the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award. It is named for Alex Gamez, a member of the FL's Zanesville Greys, who was killed in a car accident just after being named to the 1995 All-Star Game. When his family traveled to Zanesville, after this overwhelming tragedy, they asked for his Greys' uniform so that Alex could be buried wearing it. He has become a symbol of what the League stands for - an opportunity for young, talented players, like Alex, to realize their dreams of playing professional baseball. I got to know Alex Gamez and he was a shining star, a star that continues to grace us with its light.
All in all, it was a great trip to northern Illinois for the midsummer classic. Next year, the cream of the League will head downstate, to Marion, Illinois, for the next installment. Hats off to RiverHawks' GM Josh Olerud and the Rockford staff for all of their work to make this year's event a success. Here's looking forward to the job that the Southern Illinois Miners front office will do in preparing Rent One Park for all of the festivities in 2010.
More trips coming up. Don't move the dial!
